VI Всебеларусское народное собрание. 12 февраля 2021 г. Фото: president.gov.by
Alyaksandr Lukashenka has proposed submitting regional development issues for consideration at the All-Belarusian People’s Assembly, which is expected to be held at the end of the year. He made the statement at a meeting devoted to the “One District – One Project” initiative.
“Today we will discuss a strategic task in the field of regional development — the ‘One District – One Project’ initiative. This can be seen as a kind of final event following our visits to the south-east of Mahiliou region and the south of our Belarus, the Homiel and Brest regions”, he said.
According to him, specific programmes are already in place in these regions.
“Naturally, there are also broader programmes for the development of the Prypiatskaye Palessie and the south-east of Mahiliou region. We also touched on land reclamation, bringing agricultural land back into use and other major measures. We discussed Vitsyebsk region and what needs to be done to boost development there, including in our northern region”, he continued.
Lukashenka added that he is considering submitting regional development issues to the assembly.
“I am thinking about bringing these topics forward at the All-Belarusian People’s Assembly at the end of the year, where we will traditionally hear the prime minister’s report, as key issues for discussion. This is important for people, and these topics should not just be mentioned at the highest representative body but addressed seriously”, he said.
Following constitutional changes, the All-Belarusian People’s Assembly is to be held at least once a year. In 2024, it approved the military doctrine and national security concept. Last year, the main issue was the approval of the socio-economic development programme for 2026–2030, as well as updates to the composition of the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court.
Lukashenka expressed dissatisfaction with the results of the initiative’s implementation, saying that about half of the districts had failed to deliver.
“About half of our district executive committee chairpersons have failed this most important test. I do not see that our authorities, especially at the lower level, district executive committee chairpersons, are truly engaged in this issue and are literally fighting for every job where it is needed in a specific district”, he said.
He noted that many regions are facing population outflows, especially in rural areas. According to surveys, residents are primarily concerned about the availability of jobs with decent wages, followed by pricing, leisure and housing and utilities.
“That is why in the previous five-year period the ‘One District – One Project’ initiative was introduced, with the expectation that it would create decent jobs with good wages”, Lukashenka said, adding that there are also shortcomings, false reporting and ineffective monitoring.
He said the initiative should now focus not only on job creation but also on profitable production of in-demand goods.
“It is important for us now to build enterprises whose products will be in demand not only domestically but also on foreign markets — and to sell them at a high profit. This is the most important issue for us today. But it must be done quickly”, he said.
He also called for completing the programme to build dairy complexes.
“We urgently need to complete the programme for constructing dairy farms and facilities for young livestock. This is essential. But it requires funding. We must build dairy farms and livestock facilities, otherwise we will lose agriculture. Unfortunately, today we are often seen as an agrarian country rather than an industrial one. That is why I often stress that we are an industrial country with a high level of agricultural development”, Lukashenka said.